Days after receiving the biggest honour of his career, Kartik Aaryan is back at work, and his new team made sure the moment did not pass quietly. The actor has resumed shooting for his upcoming drama Captain India in London, where the unit celebrated his National Award for Best Actor.
In a clip shared by the makers, Baweja Studios, Kartik is seen cutting a cake with the team. The caption read: "Welcome back Captain @kartikaaryan. Team #CaptainIndia is super proud to have you back on sets and we can't stop celebrating!! From having a National Award winning director to now a National Award winning actor on boar (sic)."
Captain India is directed by Hansal Mehta.
The Night in Gujarat
Kartik received his first National Award from President Droupadi Murmu. He was honoured with the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for Chandu Champion at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 22, at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat. The ceremony was organised outside New Delhi for the first time in decades.
He shared the honour with Malayalam veteran Mammootty, who won for Bramayugam. The winners had originally been announced on July 18, 2026.
"A Dream of a Small Town Boy"
Sharing a video from the ceremony, Kartik reflected on his journey. He wrote: "Looking back affectionately with a smile at that mumma's boy from Gwalior who dared to dream of becoming an actor from an environment, where people laugh at such dreams, and move forwards. Finally, I witnessed and lived the moment, still numb with excitement and nervousness. A dream of a small town boy, the dream of every actor in the country, the National Award for Best Actor. 'Chandu Nahi, Champiyon hai Main'. I will always be grateful and indebted to Kabir sir and Sajid sir for trusting me with the responsibility of playing India's first Paralympic Gold Champion- Murlikant Petkar sir on the big screen."
In another post, he thanked the President: "Thank you to the Honourable President Draupadi Murmu Ji for your kind and encouraging words @presidentofindia. Emotional and proud moment for me and the entire Chandu Champion team." The post included a glimpse of the President speaking about Murlikant Petkar.
The Real Champion Behind the Role
Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan, is based on Murlikant Petkar, who suffered serious injuries in the 1965 war but went on to make history by winning a Paralympic gold medal. Petkar became India's first Paralympic gold medallist, winning in freestyle swimming. The film traced his journey from wrestling and military service to para-sport.
Kartik underwent a major physical transformation and trained extensively for the role. The film released on June 14, 2024.
Kartik's Journey So Far
Kartik made his acting debut with Pyaar Ka Punchnama in 2011. He went on to build a strong following with youth-centric comedies such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh.
He also played against type in the thrillers Dhamaka (2021) and Freddy (2022), and the romantic drama Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023). His highest-grossing releases came with the horror comedies Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024).
Chandu Champion, released the same year as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, showed a completely different side of him, and it is this role that has now earned him the National Award.
Why It Matters: A Career Turning Point
For Kartik, the award marks a clear shift in how his career is viewed. Before Chandu Champion, he was known largely for comedies and romances.
The Petkar biopic changed that conversation. The same performance also won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor, shared with Abhishek Bachchan for I Want to Talk. With both the Filmfare and the National Award for one role, Chandu Champion has become the defining performance of his career so far.
A Rare Pairing on the Podium
Sharing the honour with Mammootty adds to its weight. The Malayalam veteran's win marked his fourth National Film Award, placing him alongside Amitabh Bachchan for the most wins in the category. For a Hindi film star from a non-film background, standing next to one of Indian cinema's most decorated actors is a significant moment.
What Comes Next
Kartik now carries the National Award tag into Captain India, which his team has proudly highlighted. He will also appear in Mrighdeep Singh Lamba's Naagzilla. For audiences, the question will be how the newly minted Best Actor chooses to build on the credibility Chandu Champion has given him.
With inputs from IANS.
